Article controlled adjustment for packaging apparatus



J. A. KAY

May 1, 1951 ARTICLE CONTROLLED ADJUSTMENT FOR PACKAGING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1944 INVENTORZ J.A. KAY

J. A. KAY

May 1, 1951 ARTICLE CONTROLLED ADJUSTMENT FOR PACKAGING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1944 mvw y 1951 J. A. KAY 2,550,928

ARTICLE CONTROLLED ADJUSTMENT FOR PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGA.

INVENTORI 'J A.KAY

BY nrorwcxs J. A. KAY

May 1, 1951 ARTICLE CONTROLLED ADJUSTMENT FOR PACKAGING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 5, 1944 OR 5km. W ATTOR NEYS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 was? y W j ATTORNEYS May 1, 1951 J. A. KAY

ARTICLE CONTROLLED ADJUSTMENT FOR PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5, 1944 May 1, 1951 K I 2,550,928

ARTICLE CONTROLLED ADJUSTMENT FOR PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIGQ.

y 1951 A J. A. KAY 9 2,550,928

ARTICLE CONTROLLED ADJUSTMENT FOR PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5, 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 H2 III 322 3|4 BIB 320 323 FIGB.

INVENTORI J.A.KAY

2% W ATTQRNEYS Patented May 1, 1951 UNITE sr'rs TENT orrics ARTICLE CONTROLLED ADJUSTMENT FOR PACKAGING APPARATUS pany Application October 5, 1944, Serial No. 557,330

" In Great Britain June 9, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires June 9, 1963 I This invention relates to packaging apparatus of the kind that is adjustable for the accommodation of articles, e. g; fibreboard containers, of different width and/or height and wherein the adjustment of the apparatus is controlled by a controlling device, which automatically causes appropriate adjustment of the apparatus upon movement of'a controlling member to a position appropriate to the size of the-article for which theiapparatus is to be adjusted.

According to the inventionthere is provided an apparatus of the kind described-wherein the movement of the controlling member is brought about by a movable feeler member connected to the controlling member and arranged to engage each article in turn as it is fed to the apparatus so as to cause the controlling member to move to a position appropriate to the size of the article for the time being in engagement with the feeler member thereby causing the controlling device to bring about adjustment of the apparatus appropriate to that article. The feeler member may be"arranged in the path followed by the articles as'they are fed to the apparatus so as to be moved outwardly by each article in turn, means being provided for continually urging the ieeler member into engagement with the articles.

Where the apparatus is adjustable as regards both width and height of the articles, two movable feeler members may be employed for operating respectively the controlling members associated with the adjustment of the apparatus as regards the width and height of the articles.

By the use of the present invention, therefore, articles of difiierent dimensions'may be f-edin succession to the apparatus, each article automatically bringing about any adjustment of the apparatus to suit its own dimensions.

When each article is of a different size to the succeeding one, it will, of course, be'necessary for each article to pass completely'through the adjustable portion of the apparatus before adjustment takes place for the next succeeding article; and to allow of this, stop-members, operating in conjunction withthe ieeler mechanism and controlling device, are'provided for preventing entry of one size ofarticle into the adjustable portion of the apparatus while an article-of a diiferent size is passing through. Means may be provided, however, for rendering the controlling device ineffective while any article is passing through the adjustable portion of the apparatus so as to allow the next succeeding articlejto op- ;eratethefeelermechanism to set thecontrolling dev e in adva "for he-n x adjusting ope a 15 Claims. (=01. 9345) tion, adjustment then taking place immediately the adjustable portion of the apparatus is free from articles. In such a case, means may be provided 'inassocia'tion with the feeler mechanism for rendering the controlling device and the stop members ineiiective when successive articles are of the same size so that such articles may pass through the adjustable portion of the apparatus at the same time.

By way of example, the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, 'in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation o'f'the front end "of a "packaging apparatus constructed in accord.- ance with the invention,

Figure} is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an end view of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 viewed in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1, r

Figures is a wiring diagram showing the various electrical connections,

Figure 5 is an elevation of an intermediate portion of the packaging apparatus, and is a continuation from the left-hand side of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a plan view of the portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 5',

Figure '7 is an elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure -l, drawn to a larger scale than Figure '1,

Figure 8 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of Figures 7 and 8. i

The packaging apparatus shown in the drawings is for closing and sealing the flaps of travelling open ended containers which have previously a detail of been filled, the containers ll being fed through the apparatus by means of pusher bars I84 carried by a pair of chains 84, and delivered with their flaps freshly sealed to a conveyor (not shown) for transferring the sealed containers to another station.

The packaging apparatus is adjustable both as regards the width of the container and its height so as to be capable of "accommodating containers of various sizes. Thegeneral construction and operation of the adjustable portion of the apparatus is known so that it is only necessary to describe in detail such parts ofthe adjustable mechanism as are necessary for a full understanding of the construction and operation of the apparatus according to the invention.

The parts of the apparatus that need to be adjusted when it is desired to adjust the apparatus 3 in regard to the height of the container (hereinafter referred to as the vertically adjustable parts) are supported on a pair of brackets 220 slidably mounted on pairs of pillars 2E6 and 2H and their adjustment is controlled by pairs of vertical screwed shafts 2 I9, only one pair of which is shown. The parts of the apparatus that it is necessary to adjust when it is desired to adjust the apparatus as regards the width of the container (hereinafter referred to as the laterally adjustable parts) are slidably mounted on supporting shafts 22? and 228, running transversely of the path of the containers II, and the adjustment of these parts is brought about by horizontal screwed shafts 23I and 233. The laterally adjustable parts include side guides 236 and I [3.

The vertical screwed shafts 2I9 are driven through suitable gearing from a reversible electric motor 233 while the horizontal screwed shafts 23I and 233 are similarly driven from a further reversible electric motor 239. The motors 236 and 239 are provided with solenoid brakes 24I and 242, respectively, of the well-known type in which the brake is normally maintained in operation by means of a spring and is released against the spring pressure when the solenoid is energized.

The operation of the apparatus according to the invention will first be described in general terms and the construction and operation of the various mechanisms will then be described more fully. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, containers II are fed to the apparatus in succession but during the feeding movement, 1. e., before the containers reach the adjustable portion of the apparatus, they pass through a measuring station I2 where they are temporarily halted in turn. As the leading container moves into the measuring station, it engages a pair of feeler members I3 and I4 lying in its path, the feeler I3 (the height feeler) being arranged to engage the top and the feeler I4 (the width feeler) one side of the container. The containers are fed by a conveyor I6 provided with guide rails I'i spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate the widest container in the range for which the apparatus is built, the conveyor It being inclined towards the side of the conveyor opposite to that on which the width feeler I4 is arranged so as to urge the containers continuously towards that side of the conveyor, and also inclined downwardly in a forward direction so as to feed the containers forward, a fixed stop I3 being provided on that side of the conveyor for the purpose of arresting the bulk of the containers while the leading one moves into the measuring station. First and second movable stop members I9 and 2| are also provided for controlling the movement of the containers into and out of the measuring station I2.

As the leading container reaches the measuring station I2, it i temporarily arrested by the second stop member 2I until the measuring operation is completed.

Bythe time the leading container reaches the second stop member H, the feeler members I3 and I4 have been moved upwardly and outwardly, respectively, by the container by amounts corresponding to its height and width, respectively. Such movements of the feeler members I3 and I4 are transferred to the controlling members 22 and 23, respectively, of a controlling device generally indicated by reference numeral 246.

The controlling device 246 consists of two units 241 and 248, 241 for controlling the move ment of the laterally adjustable parts (hereinafter referred to as the lateral unit) and 248 for controlling the movement of the vertically adjustable parts (hereinafter referred to as the vertical unit). The lateral and vertical units are driven from the motors 239 and 238, respectively, through the medium of the screwed shaft 233 and one of the screwed shafts 2I9, respectively. The driving connections are as follows:

In the case of the lateral unit 24?, the motor 239 drives a vertical shaft 249 through a pair of spiral gears fill, and the vertical shaft 249 drives the screwed shaft 233 through a worm reduction gear 252. Secured to the screwed shaft 233 is a spiral gear 266 arranged in mesh with a further spiral gear 261 secured to the driving shaft 269 for the lateral unit, the driving shaft 269 having one bearing in an extension 2' of the main framework and another in the framework of the controlling device 246.

In the case of the vertical unit 248, one of the screwed shafts 2I9 (the one disposed on the same side of the apparatus as the controlling device 246) has secured to its lower end a spiral gear 216 arranged in mesh with a further spiral gear 211 secured to the driving shaft 282 for the vertical unit 248, the driving shaft 282 having one bearing in an extension 283 from the main framework and another in the framework of the controlling device 246.

The construction and operation of the controlling device 246 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9.

The device is mounted in a framework 29! of box section in which are arranged the lateral and vertical units 241 and 248 respectively. The lateral and vertical units are identical in construction and co-operate respectively with the motors 239 and 238 and their solenoid brakes 242 and 24I in a manner which will be apparent from the following description in which only the lateral unit 241 is described. The drive shaft 269 drives a vertical shaft 301 through a worm reduction gear 302, the vertical shaft 30I being provided with bearings in bearing members 383 and 394, forming part of the framework 29I. Secured to the upper end of the vertical shaft 30I is a rotatable member comprising a pair of arms 396 and 33'! extending from a hub portion 368 and terminating in bearings 303 and 3H. Pivoted in the bearings 369 and 3H is a pair of starting members generally indicated by reference numerals 3I2 and 3I3. The starting member 3I2 consists of a pair of rods 3! attached at one end to a shaft 3I6 supported in the bearing 309 and carrying at their other ends an arcuate track 3II. The starting member 3! 3 is identical with the starting member 3I2 and consists of a pair of rods 3I8 attached at one end to a shaft 3I9 supported in the bearing 3H and carrying at their other ends an arcuate track 32I. The tracks 3H and 32I are disposed symmetrically about the axis of the vertical shaft 30I and are separated by a gap 322 (see Figure 9).

The starting members BIZ and 3I3 carry pairs of spring-loaded plungers 323, 320 and 324, 325, respectively, which are arranged to co-operate, respectively, with pairs of micro-switches 41, 88 (44, 86 vertical units) and 48, 89 (46, 81 vertical units), attached to the hub portion 308 of the rotatable member at positions immediately below the pairs of plungers 323, 320 and 324, 325, and connected in the circuit of the motor 239 and abscessn Formed i a vert cal tr it. 34.3 arran ed or pivota move: men ab t an. axi coi cident w th that o the rtical. sha t 3 s c red to t e. uppe e d. i the sha t. is arm 11 h pu pose of which will be described later), andv at the lot erv nd the shaf ns ehe ram work 2.9% is cured. the on rol ing m mb r r y moun ed in i e earin t rm d at the. ex: remit o th co tr nins m mb r. 23. a roller 351i, arranged to engage the tracks 3|! and 32 w ic a r d o onta jwit e.- ro 1 r'1356.

x sn inss ca r ed y. in he upce porig at wh h. a e ovi e with shoul e 3. 9..

h se a to s. o im e wa ovement oi the. ra k- W en the. n t s op ra ve t rslle 3.55 br es. h p. 322., as. shown in.

i re n ic osit on he. cl'orfiwitc fifi 8 89 a e in. h ff os o iYQthl. mo me t. the. c n r l n member resp nse. t movement. f he feel meme et .a in. one.. i ec o Q th o her... causes he l er 5 to d r s he. ar a e. t ck. 11. r. 2 asthe case av e. o that. he. orrespond: ns st rtin membe 31. and. 1. 5. ausedto P vot. abou the a is at theshaft 3.1. r m .dur: which movement the corresponding, pair of P i e.pairQ m cr rswi chesfl, 8.8.01 48, 9.; as t a e. mayb pera o oiw ich auses "e5 9 le aseth b a e and at. the same i aus s. e. motor. mto. be set n. moti n lifthejap ro r ate. di ec ion he Screwed. meme.

basin 2, 2. and- 233 are he cause to rotate i111 h. hei red onn ctionwi ht e moto zjsfhp r ng about adjustment of the laterally.

adjustabl par s f h d stable. mechanisml ndf he. c ewed. shaft .3- ca s s. the vertical shaft 3}]! to rotate through the geared connece i le descr bed bove withthc re ult that. the rotatable member is set in motionin the samev di 9iiqil ..,as hat nwh ch the... ontrollin membfer Zt has been rotated and; continues its,v motion until the gap 322 reaches the ro ller of thecon; 5 111. 8 member. in h pos nto. wh ch it. has been moved under the influence of the. feeler 'r [4, whereupon thearcuatetrack 32I is.

can d to snap back under theinfluenceof the es 7 its i ina o it on seeFi ure 9), this movement withdrawing the plungers 324 and 325 to disconnect the micro-switches .4] and.

38 thereby stopping the motor 239and;de;enersizing. thesolenoid of the brake 242 so thatthe brakeis;automatically applied. It will thusbe seen that the roller 356 will maintain the arcuate I track 32! in its switch-operating.position until such time as the rotatable member has made an angular movement corresponding tothe dis.- placement of the roller 356 with respect to the gap 322. It will thus be seen that the controlling members 22 and 23 are moved in response to the mo ement Of, t e er embers to o tions s l to he e esie sei the eia e .323. and. 324. 325 operate he. cor;

Q t e. sele oid. brak 2 o. e.

7 lo. 1 he upper cove l te oi. the. 2 Wo k. 2. s a bearin 34. wh ch. s. ran e for the time being at the measuring station and bring about adjustment of the adjustable pore tion of the apparatus to suit that container. As soon as the adjustment is complete, the stop members I 9 and 2| are moved out of the path of the container so. as to allow the leading COD: tainer to move. out of the measuring station and the next succeeding one to move in whereupon the process is repeated. Operation of the stop members 19 and 2 l7 is brought about by solenoids 2t and 26, respectively, which are so controlled that when the controlling device comes to rest after an adjusting operation the solenoids are energized and cause the stop members to move. to their inoperative positions.

It will be understood that when each container fed to the apparatus is of a differentv size from the preceding one, it will be necessary for each container to pass completely through the adjustable portion of the apparatus before adjustment can be effected to suit the next succeeding container, and to allow of this, there is provided in the adjustable portion of the apparatus.

a fceler bar 2! arranged to be depressed by any container passing through the adjustable mechanism to operate a safety switch 2E for rendering the controlling device inoperative. The feeler bar 2'! is pivotally mountedon links 372 attached to thelower side guides 236 and H3 and urged towards the container II by springs 313'. The

feeler bar 21 carries a plunger 314 arranged to.

operate the switch 28 when the feeler bar is depressed outwardly by any container passing through the adjustable mechanism. The switch 28 is ofthe type which is normally closed, i. e.,

the circuit in which the switch is connected is.

complete when the plunger 314 is out of contact with the switch, and. is connected in the circuit governing the operation of the controlling device 246, no containers passing through the adjustable mechanism, the circuit is complete and the con-.

trolling device can be operated; and that when containers are passing through the adjustable mechanism thefeeler bar is. depressed with the result that the switch 28 is operated to break the circuit so that the controlling device becomes inoperative (except in certain circumstances described be1ow)-. The safety switch 28, when open, serve. also to deeenergise the solenoids 24 and 26 operating the first and second stop members l9 and 2| so that those members can spring up into stop position thus preventing the next succeeding container from entering the adjustable portion of the apparatus.

When, however, two or more successive containers are of the same dimensions, it is desirable that they should be. allowed to pass through the apparatus at the same time, and for this reason,

there is arranged in association with each feelermember. Band [4 equalizer switches 29 and 3!, respectively, arranged to co-operate with an adjustable part of the apparatus in such a manner that when a given container is of the same dimensions as. the preceding one the equalizer above,...and each .one is-pushed clear of the stop It will thus be seen that, when there are.

l8 by a pusher bar 4| the movement of which is controlled by the solenoid 2a through parallel motion linkages Z2 and $3, in timed relation to the movement of the stop member It. The construction is such that as the stop member 19 is moved downwardly to its inoperative position by the solenoid 24, the pusher bar 6i moves forward to move the leading container clear of the fixed stop E8. The solenoid 24, in common with the solenoid 2'6 operating the stop member 2i, is operable by the microswitches M, 46, 4? and 48 under the control of the controlling members 22 and 23. The microswitches M, at, 41 and 48 are of the normally closed type so that the solenoids 24 and 26 are operative to maintain their respective stop members in thei inoperative positions when the controlling members 22 and 23 are in their neutral positions, or when the controlling device is ineffective. Assuming the leading container to be just passing into the measuring station i2, it will be seen that, as soon as the container moves the feelers l3 and M (which are designed in this instance to return by gravity to the positions corresponding to the minimum sized container) the controlling members 22 and 23 immediately operate the microswitches 4d and 47 or 46 and 43, according to the direction of rotation, whereupon the solenoids 24 and 26 become ineffective and the stop members 49 and 2 I spring into stop position through the action of the springs 49 and iii, respectively, the stop member 2| arresting movement of the leading container at the measuring station and the stop membe if) arresting the movement of the bulk of the containers on the conveyor it in co-operation with the fixed stop i8.

The feeler member I3 is carried by a shaft 62 pivotally mounted in a pair of arms 53 supported on a shaft 54 itself pivotally mounted in a pair.

of frames 56 extending from the main framework of the apparatus. Also secured to the shaft 52 is an arm 57 carrying a roller 58 arranged to bear in a vertical slot 59, in one of the frames 55. Carried on the stud 6! carrying the roller 58 is a rack 62 arranged to engage a pinion 53 mounted on a shaft Ed carried in bearings 66 and 67 provided on the frame 55 and the controlling device respectively. A guiding roller 68 is mounted on the main framework of the apparatus and is arranged to maintain the rack 62 in engagement with the pinion 83. Also attached to the shaft 64 is a spiral gear arranged to engage a further spiral gear ii secured to the shaft '52 carrying the controlling member 22. The tip of the feeler member 53 is in line with the centre of the roller 58, and the operative edge of the stop member 2!, which is pivctd on a shaft 13 extending between the main frames of the apparatus, is also in vertical alignment with the centre of the roller 58 when the feeler member is in its stop position.

The feeler member 14 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 74 carried by a bracket I5 extending from the main framework of the apparatus and is formed with an arm H3 extending downwardly and being connected to the arm Tl by means of a link "28. It will be seen, therefore, that as the container at the measuring station moves the feeler members 53 and it, they in turn move the V microswitches 86, Bl, 88 and 89 as described above. The pairs of switches are 44 86, 46 81, 47 88, and 48 89 (see particularly Figure 4), and the switches constituting each pai are operated synchronously upon movement of the controlling members 22 or 23. The motor switches 86, 81, 88 and 89 are of the normally open type, Whereas, as explained above, the solenoid switches 44, 46, 1 and d8 are of the normally closed type, so that, when the motors are operated, the solenoids are tie-energized and vice versa.

From the measuring station, the container is fed forward by a belt '19 the upper lap of which is supported at intervals on rollers 8|. The belt 78 is driven by means of chain and sprocket gearing 82 from the shaft 83 carrying the main feed chain 84 of the apparatus.

Assuming a container to be still at the measuring station, and the operation of the adjusting mechanism just completed, it will be seen that the motor switches 86 or 81 and 88 or 89, as the case may be, have just been closed while the solenoid switches 44 or 65 and i? or 48 have just been opened. This operation would normally energise the solenoids and cause the stop members l9 and 2l' to be withdrawn to their inoperative positions so as to allow the container at the measuring station to move forward and the next succeeding container to take its place. As mentioned above, however, there is provided in the adjustable portion of the apparatus a safety switch 28 which renders the controlling device inoperative (except in the circumstances mentioned below) during the time that a container or containers are passing through the adjustable portion of the apparatus. This being the case, the solenoids 2d and 26 are prevented from operating until such time as the adjustable portion of the apparatus is free from containers when the safety switch 28 is once more closed and the solenoids 24 and 26 operate to allow the container at the measuring station to move forward and the succeeding one to take its place.

The safety switch 28 is operated, as described above, by a feeler bar 27, which in this example, extends through the adjustable portion of the apparatus to a point just short of the vertical line containing the axis of the roller 58, so that, as soon as the container for the time being at the measuring station is released for forward movement, the safety switch 28 is operated by the feeler bar 27, thus rendering the controlling device inoperative.

From the measuring station the container is moved forward by the belt i9 until it meets the second fixed stop 9| from which it is freed in timed relation to the movement of the pusher bars on the main chain 8t by means of a further pusher 92 which is reciprocated by a two-armed lever 93 in co-operation with 'a rotatable cam t l in known manner. The container then moves into the main portion of the apparatus in the ordinary way. 7

As mentioned above, there is arranged in association with each feeler member l3 and i4 equalizer switches 29 and 3!, respectively, the purpose of these being to allow containers of the same dimensions to proceed into the adjustable portion of the apparatus at the same time. The equalizer switch 29 is mounted on the rack 32 and is arranged to (id-op rate with a contact member iili carriedby a vertical rack 92 mounted in bearings I03 extending from the framework 58, the rack being'driven by a p n 94 mounted on a shaft 106 havingone'bearing It? in the framework 56. and another bearing I65, forming part of the main framework of the adjustable portion of the apparatus. The shaft I06 is driven by a rack and pinion mechanism I I and 2E8, similar to that just described, the racks H0 being secured to the adjacent bracket 220 for movement with the vertically adjustable parts. It will thus be seen that as the rack 62 is raised by the feeler 13 as a container moves into the measuring station, the consequential movement of the adjustable portion of the apparatus causes the contact member lei to be adjusted up or down, as the case may be, so that if the container for the time being at the measuring station is of the same height as that for which the apparatus has just been adjusted, the microswitch '255 and the contact member lGi will come. to rest at the same height, and since the contact point of the contact member Iti projects into the path of the contact point of the microswitch 29 the switch will be operated.

The microswitch 3! is attached to-the feeler member i4 and there is arranged on the shaft 1'4 a contact arm I88 carrying a contact member I39 arranged to co-operate with the microswitch 3!. The contact point of the contact member [06 and the-contact point of the microswitch 3! are at the same radial distance from the centre of the shaft '34, and the contact point of the contact member projects into the path of the contact point of the microswitch. The contact arm I08 .is freely mounted on the shaft 14 and is connected by means of a link III to a bracket H2 extending from one of the side guides N3 of the adjustable portion of the apparatus. The point of connection between the pivoted link and the contact arm is at a radial distance from the centre of the shaft M equal to one half the radial distance of the contact point from the centre of the shaft 14. By this means, when the feeler M is operated by a .container of the same width as that for which the adjustable portion of the apparatus has just been adjusted, the contact point of the contact member its is caused to move to the same position as that to which the microswitch has been moved by the container and in so doing operates the microswitch 3!. It will thus be seen that, when a container of the same dimensions as the last previous one moves into the measuring station,

the equalizer switches 29 and Si are operated with the result that the solenoids 2t and .28 remain effective and become energised on completion of the measuring operation despite the fact that the safety switch 28 is in operation.

I claim:

1. Packaging apparatus of the kind described, comprising adjustable mechanism for accommodatingarticles of different dimensions, a device for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism, said device including a movable controlling member arranged upon movement to a predetermined position to cause adjusting movement of the adjustable mechanism to a predetermined-position for accommodating a given size of article, a movable feeler member connected to said controlling member and arranged to engage each article in turn as it is fed to a measuring station and to be moved thereby by aniamount determined by the size of the article, such movement causing said controlling memberto move to a position appropriate to the size of the article for the time being in engagement with said feeler member, thereby causing the controllingdevice to bring aboutv adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article, a first stop member arranged to move into the path of the articles as the leading article approaches the measuring station so as temporarily to arrest forward movement of the remaining articles, and a second stop member arranged to move into the path followed by the leading article as it reaches the measuring station, said stop members being arranged to operate in timed relationship with the operation of said controlling member so as to control the movement of the articles into and out of the measuring station.

2. Packaging apparatus of the kind described, comprising adjustable mechanism for accommodating articles of different dimensions, a device for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism, said device including a movable controlling member arranged upon movement to a predetermined position to cause adjusting movement of the adjustable mechanism to a predetermined position for accommodating a given size of article, a pivoted feeler member connected to said controlling member and arranged to extend transversely of the path followed by the articles so as to be moved outwardly'by each article in turn as it is fed to a measuring station by an amount determined by the size of the article, such movement causing said controlling member to move to a position appropriate to the size of the article for the time being in engagement with said feeler member, thereby causing said controlling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article, a first stop member arranged to move into the path of the articles as the leading article approaches the measuring station so as temporarily to arrest forward movement ofthe remaining articles, and a second stop member arranged to move into the path followed by the leading article as it reaches the measuring station, said stop members being arranged to operate in timed relationship with the operation of said controlling member so as to control the move" ment of the articles into and out of the measuring station.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stop members are solenoid-operated, and wherein the adjustable mechanism comprises a safety switch arranged to be operated by any article passing through the adjustable mechanism to render said controlling member inefiective, said switch being connected in the circuit of the solenoids and arranged upon operation to cause said stop members to move into stop position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said stop members are solenoid-operated, and wherein the adjustable mechanism comprises a safety switch arranged to be operated by any article passing through the adjustable mechanism to render said controlling member ineffective, said switch being connected in the circuit of the solenoids and arranged upon operation to cause said stop members to move into stop position.

5. Packaging apparatus of the kind described, comprising adjustable mechanism for accommodating articles of different dimensions, a device for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism, said device including a movable controlling member arranged upon movement to a predetermined position to cause adjusting movement of the adjustable mechanism to a predetermined position for accommodating a given size of article, a movable feeler member con- 1 l nected to said controlling member and arranged to engage each article in turn as it is fed to a measuring station and to be moved thereby by an amount determined'by the size of the article, such movement causing said controlling memberto move to a position appropriate to the of the article for the time being in engagement with said feeler member thereby causing said controlling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article, a first stop member arranged to move into the path of the articles as the leading article approaches the measuring station, a second stop member arranged to move into the path followed by the leading article as it reaches the measuring station, said stop members being solenoidoperated and arranged to operate in timed relationship with the operation of said controlling member so as to control the movement of the articles into and out of the measuring station, a safety switch in the adjustable mechanism arranged to be operated by any article passing through the adjustable mechanism to render controlling member ineffective, said switch being connected in the circuit of the solenoid and arranged upon operation to cause said stop H1e1nbers to move into stop position, and an equalizer switch in association with said feeler member and arranged to co-operate with the adjustable mechanism in such a manner that when an article of the same size as the preceding one moves into the measuring station the equalizer switch is operated and closes the circuit that has been opened by the safety switch thereby energizing the solenoids of said stop members so as to allow that container to pass into the adjustable mechanism.

6. Packaging apparatus of the kind described, comprising adjustable mechanism for accommodating articles of different dimensions, a device article, a pivoted feeler member connected to said controlling member and arranged to extend.

transversely of the path followed by the articles so as to be moved outwardly by each article in turn as it is fed to a measuring station by an amount determined by the size of the article, such movement causing said controlling member to move to a position appropriate to the size of the article for the time being in engagement with said feeler member, thereby causing the controlling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article, a first stop member arranged to move into the path of the articles as the leading article approaches the measuring station, a second stop member arranged to move into the path followed by the leading article as it reaches the measuring station, said stop members being solenoid-operated and arranged to operate in timed relationship with the operation of said controlling member so as to control the movement of the articles into and out of the measuring station, a safety switch in the adjustable mechanism arranged to be operated by any article passing through the adjustable mechanism to render said controlling member ineffective, said switch being connected in the circuit of the solenoids and arranged upon operation to cause said step members to move into stop position, and an equalizer i 2 switch in association with said feeler member and arranged to co-operate with the adjustable mechanism in such a manner that when an of the same size as the preceding one moves into the measuring station the equalizer switch is operated and closes the circuit that has been opened by the safety switch thereby energizing the solenoids of said stop members so as to allow that article to pass into the adjustable mechaism.

'7. Packaging apparatus of the kind described, comprising adjustable mechanism for accommodating articles of different height and width, a eviee for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism, said device including a pair of movable controlling members for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism as regards Width and height, respectively, of the articles, said controlling members being arranged upon movement to a predetermined position to cause adjusting movement of the adjustable mechanism to predetermined positions for accommodating a given size of article, and a pair of movable feeler members connected one to each controlling member and arranged to engage the top and one side, respectively, of each article in turn as it is fed to a measuring station and to be moved thereby by an amount determined by the size of the article, such movement causing said controlling members to move to positions appropriate to the size of the article for the time being engagement with said feeler members thereby causing the controlling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article.

8. Packaging apparatus of the kind described, comprising adjustable mechanism for accommodating articles of different height and width, a device for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism, said device including a pair of movable controlling members for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism as regards height and width, respectively, said controlling members being arranged upon movement to predetermined positions to cause adjusting movement of the adjustable mechanism to predetermined positions for accommodating a given size of article, a pair of pivoted feeler members connected one to each of said controlling members and arranged to en age the top and one side, respectively. of each article in turn as it is fed to a measuring station and to be moved thereby by an amount determined by the size of the article, such movement causing said controlling members to move to positions a propriate to the size of the article for the time being in engagement with said feeler members thereby causing the controlling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article a first stop member arranged to move into the path of the articles as the leading article approaches the measuring station so as temporarily to arrest forward movement of the remaining articles, a second stop member arran ed to move into the path followed by the leading art cle as it reaches the measuring station, said stop members bein solenoid-operated and arranged to operate in timed relationship with the operation of said controlling members so as to control the movement of the articles into and out of the m asurin station, and a safety switch arran ed in adjustable mechanism to be operated by each article passing through the adjustable mechanism to render the controlling members inefiective, said switch being connected in the cir- 713 suit for the solenoids and arranged upon operation to cause said stop members to move into stop position.

9 Packagin apparatus of the kind described,

comprising adjustable mechanism for accommomechanism to predetermined positions for ac- *comodating a given size of article, apair of movable feeler' members connected one to each controlling member and arranged to engage the top "and one side, respectively, of each article in turn as i-t is' 'fed to'a measur ingstation and to be moved therebyby an amount determined by the size of the article, "such movement causing said controll g members to move to positions appropriate tetne size of the article for the time being in engagement with said feeler members thereby causing the con-troling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article, a first stop member arf ranged to move into the path of the articles as the leading article approaches the measurin station so as temporarily to arrest forward movement of the remaining articles, a second stop member arranged to move into the path followed th'eleading article as it reaches the measuring statien, said stop members being solenoid-oner- "ated and arranged to operate in timed reation- ,ship with the operation of said controllin members so as to control the movement of th articles into and out of the measuring station, a safety switch arranged "in the adjustable mechanism to be operated by any article passing through the adjustable mechanism to render said controlling members ineffective, said switch being connected in thecircuit of said solenoids and arranged upon operation to cause said stop members to move into stop position. and a pair of can lizer switches in association one with each of said feeler members, said equalizer switches being arranged to co-operate "with the adjustable mechanism in such a manner that when an article of the same size as the preceding one moves into the measuring station said equalizer switches are operated and close the circuit that has been opened by said safety switch thereby energizing the solenoids of said stop members so as to allow that l commodating a given size of article, a pair of pivoted fecler members connected one to each controlling member and arranged to engage the top and one side, respectively, of each article in turn as it is fed to. a measuring station and to be moved thereby by an amount determined by the size of the article, such movement causing said controlling members to move to positions appropriate to the size of the articlefor the time bein in engagement withsaid feeler members, thereby causing the controlling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article, a first stop member arranged to move into the path of the articles as the leading article approaches the measuring station so as temporarily to arrest forward movement of the remaining articles, a second stop :membenarranged to move into the path followed by the leading article as it reaches the measuring station, said stop members being solenoid-operated "and arranged to operate in timed relationship with the operation of said controlling members so as to control the movement of the articles into and out of the measuring station, a safety switch arranged in the adjustable mechanism to be operated :by any article passing through the adjustable mechanism to render said controlling members inefiective, said switch being connected in the circuit of said solenoids and arranged upon operation to cause said stop members to move into stop position, and a pair of equalizer switches in association one with each of said feeler members, said equalizer switches being arranged to co-operate with the adjustable mechanism in such a :manner that when an article of the samesize-as the preceding one moves into the measuring station "said equalizer switches are operated and close the circuit that has been opened by said safety switch thereby energizing the solenoids of said stop members so as to allow that article to pass into the adjustable mechanism.

11. Packaging apparatus of the kind described, comprising adjustable mechanism for accommodating articles of different height and width, a device for controlling the movement of the ad- .justa-ble mechanism, said device including a pair of movable controlling members for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism as regards width and height, respectively, of the articles, said controlling members being arranged upon movement to predetermined positions to cause adjusting movement of the adjustable mechanism to predetermined positions for accommodating a given size of article, a pair of movable feeler members connected one to each controlling member and arranged to engage the top and one side, respectively, of each article in turn as it is fed to a measuring station and to be moved thereby by an amount determined by the size of the article, such movement causing said controlling members to move to positions appropriate to the size of the article for the time being in engagement with said feeler members thereby causing the controlling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article, a first stop member arranged to move into the path of the articles as the leading article approaches the measuring station so as temporarily to arrest forward movement of the remaining articles, a second stop member arran ed to move into the path followed by the leading article as it reaches the measuring station, said stop members being arranged to operate in timed relationship with the operation of said controlling members so as to control the movement of the articles into and out of the measuring station, a safety switch arranged in the adjustable mechanism to be operated by each article passing through the adjustable mechanism to render the controlling members ineffective, and a pair of equalizer switches in association one with each of said feeler members, said equalizer switches being arranged to co-operate with the adjustable mechanism in such a manner that when an article of the same size as the preceding one moves into the measuring station said equalizer switches are operated to render the safety switch inoperative thereby allowing that article to pass into the adjustable mechanism.

12. Packaging apparatus of th kind described, comprising adjustable mechanism for accommodating articles of different height and" width, a device for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism, said device including a pair of movable controlling members for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism as regards height and width, respectively, said con-' trolling members being arranged upon movement to predetermined positions to cause adjusting movement of the adjustable mechanism to predetermined positions for accommodating a given size of article, a pair of movable feeler members connected one to each of said controlling members and arranged to engage th top and one side, respectively, of each article in turn as it is fed to a measuring station and to be moved thereby by an amount determined by the size of the article, such movement causing said controlling members to move to positions appropriate to the size of the article for the time being in engagement with said feeler members thereby causing the controlling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article, a safety switch arranged in the adjustable mechanism to be operated by each article passing through the adjustable mechanism to render the controlling members inefiective, and a pair of equalizer switches in association one with each of said feeler members, said equalizer switches being arranged to co-op erate with the adjustable mechanism in such a manner that when an article of the same size as the preceding one moves into the measuring station said equalizer switches are operated to render the safety switch inoperative thereby allowing that article to pass into the adjustable mechanism.

13. Packaging apparatus of the kind described, comprising adjustable mechanism for accommodating articles of diiferent height and width, a device for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism, said device including a pair of movable controlling membersior controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism as regards height and width, respectively, said controlling members being arranged upon movement to predetermined positions to cause adjusting movement of the adjustable mechanism to predetermined positions for accommodating a given size of article, and a pair of pivoted feeler members connected one to each of said controlling 'members and arranged to engage the top and one device for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism, said device including a pair of movable controlling members for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism as regards height and width, respectively, said controlling members being arranged upon movement to predetermined positions to cause adjusting movement of the adjustable mechanism to predetermined positions for accommodating a given size of article, a pair of pivoted feeler members connected one to each of said controlling members and arranged to engage the top and one side, respectively, of each article in turn as it is fed to a measuring station and to be moved thereby by an amount determined by the size of the article, such movement causing said controliing members to move to positions appropriate to the size of the article for the time being in engagement with said feeler members thereby causing the controlling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article, a first stop member arranged to move into the path of the articles as the leading article approaches the measuring station so as temporarily to arrest forward movement of the remaining articles, and a second stop member arranged to move into the path followed by the leading article as it reaches the measuring station, said stop members being arranged to operate in timed relationship with the operation of said controlling members so as to control the movement of the articles into and out of the measuring station.

15. Packaging apparatus of the kind described, comprising adjustable mechanism for accommodating articles-of different height and width, a device for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism, said device including a pair of movable controlling members for controlling the movement of the adjustable mechanism as regards height and width, respectively, said controlling members being arranged upon movement .to predetermined positions to cause adjusting movement of the adjustable mechanism to predetermined positions for accommodating a given size of article, a pair of pivoted feeler members connected one to each of said controlling members and arranged to engage the top and one side, respectively, of each article in turn as it is fed to a measuring station and to be moved thereby by an amount determined by the size of the article, such movement causing said controlling members to move to positions appropriate to the size of the article for the time being in engagement with said feeler members thereby causing the controlling device to bring about adjustment of the adjustable mechanism appropriate to that article, a first stop member arranged to move into the path of the articles as the leading article approaches the measuring station so as temporarily to arrest forward movement of the remaining articles, a second stop member arranged to move into the path followed by the leading article as it reaches the measuring station, said stop members being solenoid-operated and arranged to operate in timed relationship with the operation of said controlling members so as to control the movement of the articles into and out of the measuring station, a safety switch in the adjustable mechanism arranged to be operatedby any article passing through the adjustable mechanism to render said controlling members "ineffective, said switch being connected in the circuit of the solenoids and arranged. upon operation to cause said stop members to'move into stop position, and an equalizer switch in as- 17 'sociation with said feeler members and arranged to co-operate with the adjustable mechanism in such a manner that when an article of the same size as the preceding one moves into the measuring station the equalizer switch is operated and closes the circuit that has been opened by the safety switch thereby energising the solenoids of said stop members so as to allow that article to pass into the adjustable mechanism.

JAMES ARTHUR, KAY.

REFERENCES CITED file of this patent:

Number 18 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date v Martin Apr. 28, 1914 Nichols Mar. 2, 1915 Cogswell Jan. 25, 1921 Johnston June 19, 1934 Kimball Oct. 12, 1937 Johnston Feb. 7, 1939 Ferguson May 13, 1941 Ferguson -11 June 10, 1941 Kimball July 13, 1943 Rose -1 May 9, 1944 

